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WELCOME To TheNewX!!! [Own a 2005-2010 Xterra?]

14K views 13 replies 12 participants last post by  Kavehj7 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
This info gets posted in almost every welcome thread to help people new to Xterras and the Forum out. I thought I'd try to condense this a bit so we can only link one thread or refer them to it in this forum.

First things first!

WELCOME To TheNewX!!!
After you have read through these threads, have a look at our Frequently Asked Xterra Questions FAXQ thread where you can find other good info on the Second Gen Xterra in general and maybe get a few ideas of early mods!

The 2005-2010 Xterras are good vehicles. Many of them have covered hundreds of thousands of distance measurement preference here and been very reliable. However, there are some very well known weaknesses and I'm going to attempt to compile a "short list" of threads associated with it. Please read up on these issues. Several members have experienced these issues and in a few cases, it's spelled the end of their Xterra. We are a small bunch and don't want to see anyone loose their truck so we try to put this info upfront so you can be ahead of the game. Not all these issues affect EVERY year, so please read up on them to familiarize yourself with what your model could possibly experience.

SMOD
First things first, SMOD, or Strawberry Milkshake Of Death. This is when a faulty automatic transmission cooler in the radiators used in the 2005-2010 Xterras allows coolant to mix with automatic transmission fluid and enter the transmission. This wreaks havoc in there and generally costs you a transmission that at this time costs anywhere from $3k-$4k and is probably 1/3 the cost of your vehicle based on used prices posted on the forum right now. It can be avoided and even corrected if caught early enough. Here is some good reading on the subject:​
There are plenty of other threads, these cover the basics. If you have questions beyond this, please search around to see if those have been covered in other threads.​

Secondary Timing Chain Tensionsers
Next is the premature failure of the secondary timing chain tensioners. These are small plastic pieces used to keep the timing chains between the pairs of camshafts tight. In early years, they were made from inferior plastics and would wear out early, causing a "whining" sound from the engine, similar to the sound of supercharger or Ford power steering pump.​

Catalytic Converters
There have been many instances of the converters coming apart inside and clogging up the secondaries and causing lost power and stalling. It's believed by some that this can also lead to engine loss due to the nature of the EGR function of our engine.​

IPDM Intelligent Power Distribution Module
This is the module under the black cover on the passenger side of your Xterra with all the fuses and relays. It is actually a circuit board that regulates and controls many things on your Xterra. It can cause many issues as it fails including lights turning on or off by themselves, no-start conditions and many other odd things. If you have a white colored IPDM still you should look into a replacement for it. The new IPDM is black and requires the box cover as well as it won't clear under the original cover.​

05-07 OFF ROAD Locker with 2 spider gears
The first few years of the OFF ROAD Xterra's came with the M226 rear but Nissan used a locker with only two spider gears. There was a good run of those axles breaking or chewing up the spider gears because of the way the locker functions in them. Nissan updated this somewhere between mid-year 2007 or 2008. If you have an older version, just be aware that you probably still have the two-spider gear locker and you could damage it if you use it very hard off-road.​

Rear Diff Breather Mod
This affects all years of the Second Gen Xterra. The factory rear differential breather is a small plastic cap on a nipple screwed into the passenger side axle tube. It gets clogged with dirt and road debris very easily and will not allow the differential to properly vent excess pressure caused by heat. This leads to blown out axle seals and the appearance of differential oil on your rear brakes which limits their function. Since it is also not above the axle, it's an easy place for water to enter your rear axle and cause damage to the internals. This mod is considered very important and I think all members here would say that you need to do it regardless of how you intend to use your Xterra.​

If you feel like I got something wrong or need to add anything, please PM me instead of posting to keep the thread concise! -Terry

UPDATED: 1/8/19 TerryD
 
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#2 ·
This is a very good idea. Add a link to the lift options thread too, and the “add more power/engine mods” too, after the “common problems” section, perhaps call it “ready to start modding?”.
Would you make one for later model years (though they have fewer trouble spots)?
 
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